Suspect arrested after woman, 72, found dead in burned Highlands home

Updated 1:16 pm, Monday, February 24, 2014

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Family members gather at the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities are continuing to try to determine the cause of the fire. less

Family members gather at the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Family members gather at the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities are continuing to try to determine the cause of the fire. less

Family members gather at the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 9

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities continue to try to determine the cause of the fire.

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities continue to try to determine the cause of the fire. less

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Image 5 of 9

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities continue to try to determine the cause of the fire. less

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators hang a tarp to block the view of a deceased woman at the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found the deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities continue to try to determine the cause of the fire. less

Investigators hang a tarp to block the view of a deceased woman at the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a deceased 72-year-old woman in her bed. Authorities continue to try to determine the cause of the fire. less

Investigators work the scene of a fire in the 800 block of Clearlake Road, Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in the Highlands, Texas.The fire started around 6:30 a.m., and after firefighters made entry, they found a ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Harris County officials found one dead at a house fire in northeast Harris County early Friday morning.

Harris County officials found one dead at a house fire in northeast Harris County early Friday morning.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Suspect arrested after woman, 72, found dead in burned Highlands home

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A suspect has been arrested in the December stabbing death of a woman after her body was found in her burning home in east Harris County.

Ethan Drake, 21, is charged with capital murder in the slaying of Caroline Stagner Dec. 13 at 810 Clear Lake in the Highlands area.

Deputies said firefighters found Stagner's body after they extinguished the flames. She had been stabbed several times, deputies added.

The fire heavily damaged the home.

No other details about the case or what led investigators to Drake have been released.